Cycling: OCBC Singapore team earn podium finish in Pro Criterium race

Local team OCBC Singapore Continental Cycling Team scored second position at the OCBC Cycle Singapore Pro Criterium race on Friday, marking their first podium finish in the six-year history of the event. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

By Chan U-Gene

LOCAL team OCBC Singapore Continental Cycling Team scored second position at the OCBC Cycle Singapore Pro Criterium race on Friday, marking their first podium finish in the six-year history of the event.

Rico Rogers, the 35-year-old veteran sprinter from New Zealand came close but lost out to Dutchman Wouter Wippert of Australian team Drapac Professional Cycling at the finish line. In third place was Graham Briggs of Rapha Condor JT.

Rogers' team-mate Cameron Bayly of Australia claimed the king of sprints title - making it the second time in a row that the OCBC won the prize after Neil van der Ploeg took it last year.

Their team-mate Ho Jun Rong, the only Singaporean in the 15-team contest, also met his objective of lasting the entire duration of the 90-minute elimination-style circuit race.